In Granada we visited the Alhambra, which was a fortress housing the summer palace of various Moorish rulers, and later became the dwelling of Christian Emperors. What's left is a co-mingling of architecture that is heavy on the Moorish side, featuring beautiful mosaics and intricately carved patterns on the domed ceilings. In the 1800's the place fell into disrepair until Washington Irving's book, _Tales from the Alhambra_, brought renewed interest to the building. It's a beautiful sight with its fountains and gardens, a good setting for musings a la _The Arabian Nights_. After dark, Granada's Holy Week processions began. Each church made a float featuring wooden saints, crosses, candelabras and flowers. The floats were then carried by fifty or so "costeleros" from the congregation. All you could see of the costeleros were their shoes since the rest of them was covered by the float. They would only shuffle for a few yards and then stop to take a rest due to the weight. It was no easy feat maneuvering through those narrow streets either, and sometimes the floats staggered precariously. Costoleros sometimes pass out or even die during the processions because of the heavy strain and the lack of air beneath the floats.